Argument Writing

PART ONE: Introduction

THE INTRODUCTION Consists of: oThe Hook oA claim.

First…. THE HOOK

THE INTRODUCTION THE INTRODUCTION important definitions Hook: An opening sentence or two that grabs the reader’s interest and introduces the general topic of the essay Examples:  Historical information  An anecdote  A surprising statement  A declarative statement  A quote

WHAT IF I COULD OFFER EACH OF YOU $500,000?

NO, you will not have to do anything illegal!!!

So, would you like to know how to get it?

GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL!!!! Studies show that people who graduate from high school will earn at least $500,000 more in their lifetime than people who do not. Staying in school will determine whether or not you get the $500,000.

Well, did I get your attention? This is an example of one way to hook your reader in the introduction: asking a question. You can ask a rhetorical question that draws the reader into wanting to read further to discover the answer to the question. Ask an interesting question that you will answer in your essay.

THE INTRODUCTION THE INTRODUCTION the hook HISTORICAL INFORMATION: Some topics are better understood if a brief historical review of the topic is presented to lead into the discussion of the moment:  Make sure it’s factual  Keep it brief

Example of hook with Historical Information : If I wanted to write an informative essay on cool skateboarding tricks: In the spring of 1975, skateboarding took an evolutionary boost toward the sport that we see today. In Del Mar, California a slalom and freestyle contest was held at the Ocean Festival. That day, the Zephyr team showed the world what skateboarding could be. They rode their boards like no one had in the public eye, low and smooth, and skateboarding was taken from being a hobby to a serious, exciting sport. TAKEN FROM:

THE INTRODUCTION THE INTRODUCTION the hook ANECDOTE: An interesting little story  Include sights, sounds, smells and other sensory images  Keep it brief

Example of hook with Anecdote: If I wanted to write an informative article on auctions: Mike Cantlon remembers coming across his first auction ten years ago while cruising the back roads of Wisconsin. He parked his car and wandered into the crowd, toward the auctioneer's singsong chant and wafting smell of barbecued sandwiches. Hours later, Cantlon emerged lugging a $22 beam drill-for constructing post-and-beam barns—and a passion for auctions that has clung like a cocklebur on an old saddle blanket. "It's an addiction," says Cantlon, a financial planner and one of the growing number of auction fanatics for whom Saturdays will never be the same. TAKEN FROM:

THE INTRODUCTION THE INTRODUCTION the hook A SUPRISING STATEMENT: There are many ways a statement can surprise a reader. Sometimes the statement is surprising because it is disgusting. Sometimes it is joyful. Sometimes it is shocking. Sometimes it is surprising because of who said it. o Take care to explain how the statement relates to your topic o Description is great, over- exaggeration is not o Make sure that the statement is relevant, not just shocking

Example of hook with a Surprising Statement: Example of hook with a Surprising Statement: If I wanted to inform parents of ways to protect their children and prevent accidents: Have a minute? Good. Because that may be all it takes to save the life of a child—your child. Accidents kill nearly 8,000 children under age 15 each year. And for every fatality, 42 more children are admitted to hospitals for treatment. Yet such deaths and injuries can be avoided through these easy steps parents can take right now. You don't have a minute to lose. TAKEN FROM:

THE INTRODUCTION THE INTRODUCTION the hook A DECLARATIVE STATEMENT : In this pattern, the writer simply states straight out what the topic of his paper is going to be about. It is the technique that most student writers use with only modest success most of the time, but good professional writers use it too. o Don’t give too much information o Don’t write, “In this essay…” o Don’t write, “I’m going to tell you about…”

Example of hook with Declarative Statement: If I wanted to explain why people should consider attending a free concert in a public park: If you attend a concert in a city park, chances are you’re less interested in the performance than in the whole package, in which the music, the weather, the general gregariousness and the spirit of the moment become inseparable. TAKEN FROM:

THE INTRODUCTION THE INTRODUCTION the hook A QUOTE: When a writer uses the words of another to help illustrate a point Your quote should be unusual, funny, or obscure Don’t choose a long quote Your quote should have a meaning you plan to reveal to the reader as the essay progresses Remember to put opening and closing quotation marks around your quote Include who said or wrote your quote

Example of hook with a Quote: If I wanted to write an informative essay on how to recover from making a mistake: "You must never feel badly about making mistakes," explained Reason quietly, "as long as you take the trouble to learn from them.” - Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth